IPL 2 - The Sequel

What to make of it? What’s going on?

Rajasthan Royals, Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders? Hang on a minute - Rewind; Kings & Royals? Yes, I suppose so. Indians? Natch. Knight Riders? What? Is Hasselhoff opening the bowling? Talking ‘kit’? Oh, I know it is easy pickings, pure JM96* fodder but surely somebody could have come up with something better. It’s done now, no use crying over it…

So, this is NEW cricket, 20/20, the world’s best sloggers versus the world’s best dibby-dobby bowlers.

How does it stack up? Better than the first series? Or too early to tell? Most probably the latter but the issue is that given the fleeting appearances of a number of the main performers (that damn pesky Test Match thing is getting in the way) it won’t be until after Freddie, KP, Chris Gayle et al head off, that the true quality of the tournament will reveal itself with a smattering of retired Aussies and Brendan McCullum rubbing shoulders with the Indian World Twenty20 champions.

The most entertaining aspect of the tournament so far has been Shane Warne (ex-Test Cricketer and Coach of Jaipur) stating that international/test players don’t need a coach. Unless of course they are playing IPL when remarkably they do! http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0%2C21985%2C23294086-2882%2C00.html

Jardine’s Verdict: IPL2 – Some great cricketers, making a shed load of cash from relatively competitive games but… do we really want to see Matthew Hayden pumping up his ample bosom?